The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville tonight (Nov 14) at 8 PM EST on ABC. Check out a preview of “Country Music’s Biggest Night” below, including details on who is hosting, performing and presenting, American Idol fans’ chance to vote a hopeful through to Hollywood and more.
For the 11th year in a row, American Idol season 4 winner Carrie Underwood and country star Brad Paisley will return to co-host the event. Check out Carrie and Brad as they dish on the 2018 CMA Awards on GMA. Carrie talks about the challenge of wardrobe while being VERY VERY pregnant. And will there be a gender reveal on the broadcast tonight?
2018 CMA Awards List of Performers
Carrie is also set to perform, along with American Idol season 10 runner up Lauren Alaina, Eric Church, Jason Aldean with Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley with Brothers Osborne, Garth Brooks, American Idol judge Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha, Midland, Kacey Musgraves, Old Dominion, Brad Paisley, Pistol Annies, Thomas Rhett, Ricky Skaggs, Chris Stapleton with Maren Morris and Mavis Staples, Keith Urban and Brett Young. Special appearances include Lindsay Ell, Vince Gill, Sierra Hull, Chris Janson, Ashley McBryde, David Lee Murphy, Jon Pardi, Carson Peters, Marty Stuart, and Cole Swindell.
First American Idol Vote of the Year Happens LIVE on 2018 CMA Awards
Also, American Idol will be front and center during the broadcast. Three hopefuls, who were chosen by Idol producers from performances uploaded to Instagram, recorded a country cover to be shown during the live show. After, viewers will have the opportunity to vote their favorite singer through to Hollywood by visiting www.americanidol.com/vote. The winner will be announced LIVE on Good Morning America on Friday Nov. 16.
2018 CMA Awards Winners and Nominations
American Idol alums Lauren Alaina and Carrie Underwood are both nominated for awards–Lauren in the New Artist category, while Carrie received nods for However winners in two categories were revealed on GMA this morning: Thomas Rhett won Music Video of the Year for “Marry Me” and David Lee Murphy with Kenny Chesney won Musical Event of the Year for “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.”
2018 CMA Awards Nominations List, Nods for Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina
2018 CMA Awards List of Presenters
The list of 2018 CMA Awards presenters include: American Idol mentor and Dancing with the Stars contestant Bobby Bones, American Idol judge Lionel Richie, Dancing With The Stars’ pro Sharna Burgess, Country artist Jimmie Allen, Country artist Kane Brown, model and actress Olivia Culpo, Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms’ Mackenzie Foy, Country artists Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Martina McBride and Carly Pearce, singer/actor Dennis Quaid, actor Noah Schnapp, singer/songwriter, actress and producer Rita Wilson and Country artist Trisha Yearwood.
Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron Co-Host CMA Awards All Access
And a final note: American Idol alum Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron, who co-host the daily talk show Pickler & Ben, are hosting this year’s The CMA Awards: All Access, which offers viewers exclusive access to Country Music’s Biggest Night. The show, which is sponsored by Walmart, will stream exclusively on live.twitter.com/CMAawards beginning with the red-carpet stream at 6 PM ET (5 PM CT).
We’ll be LIVE BLOGGING all the winners beginning at 8 pm EST. Join us.
Read More: American Idol Spotlighted on ABC’s Country Music Special (VIDEO)
